Electric switch



Dec. 2, 1930. n. H. BAKER Erm.

ELECTRIC SIITGH Filed July 29, 1929 A a 'f P III I W\Uwwf er Patented Dec. 2, 19.36 Y

Unirse STATES] Farrar-mcs REGINALD HOWARD :BAKER AND onoIL WILLIAM rARsoNsQor ASTOMBIRMINGIIAM, VnivefL'AIvn 1 Application` fuea my 29, 1929,'seria1 N. 381,359;l nalin Geatfinitaia Nvemtelrrv, 1.928,?

This invention'has for its object to provide a simple and robust electric switch of the typek commonly termed ,a ceiling switch, that is to say, a switch which is adapted to be actuated through the medium ofa cord, or chain. The invention comprises the provision of a rocking member/in conjunction with a suitable toggleor lever mechanismcarrying the movable contact or contacts, and the employ-V 1 10 ment of an operating element which is pivotally mounted on a spring controlled and cord or chain actuatedvsliding piece, the said element being ,socon'structed and arranged that it can automatically engage in a `hook like or equivalent manner with*l either end of the roc'kingniember for the purpose of effecting an operative connection between the sliding piece and rocking member.` K l In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings y Figures l and 2 are sectional front views (in two positions) and Figure 3 a sectional end view of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention. In carrying the invention finto eiieet as shown, we employ any suitable toggle mechanism in combination with the movable contacts. In the switch illustrated the movable contacts a are carried by pivoted side arms b and are movable with respect to iiXed contacts c. The armsare movable by a toggle mechanism comprising a pair of pivotally connected parts d, @,thelatter of which can actuate the arms b through aspring f and pressure piece g. All this mechanism` is known and forms no parts of our invention. The part Z which can oscillate about the pivot pin h has formed with or secured to it a rocking member i having a pair of ends which are 4 formed with end gaps z" for engagement by the operating element y' The operating ele'- ment is situated transversely across the roeking member z', and consists of a piece which .is pivoted at its centre and is formed with hook like ends k. The'pivotal connection between the operating element y' and al sliding piece Z' is effected through the medium of a short link m, the operating element being pivoted on the link, and the latter being pivoted on the sliding piece.

The Yslidingfpitfct z is arranged to maya y Within` a hollow tubular guide/ni, and astrong Y helical .spring-1o is situated within Athe guide tofmove the sliding piece and operating ele# ment in the direction 'of the rocking inembier',` The operative movement for either'kopening or closing the switch is impartedto the sliding piece Z' by means of acl-IainV p, cord or thelke, attachedtothe link at a'position beneath the pin j whereby .the link m is pivoted'on the sliding piece Z.` i j i starting with thetp'emng element in at;

position shown in'Figure "1', a Vpull `orlthe chain causesl the "said member to berroekedf over from Loneflinnting 'position to thefetlijer' for: openingA for yelos'ilifig the switch; twill be' noticed that1 whenA there isr no pull on gthe chain, 'the' active hooklc on the member i niayY l not fully engage'the adj aeent gapped `endY` or* the part t as"s`howninjFigu`reL theactive end -bjeifng 'th atfat 'thev left hand side ofthe* draw; ing." But as l"soon as apullis'exerted on the chain, lthe first leect is to'cause a secure in ter' tension is maintained, thoseparts remainsecurelyl connected, 1theyright handend 'of the operating elementbeing clear ofV the right Ving piece Z returns underV the action of'its spring, and during this movement the operative element becomes disconnected from the end oit' the rocking member which it 'formerly engaged and is rocked over by its contact with the now stationary rocking memberso as to bring its other end into engagement with the other end of that member. This condition is shownV in Figure 2, and the switch is now ready for a reverse movement of the movable contact.-

The invention is not limited to any particular subordinate details. of construction, as these may be varied asl requireds In the switchv illustrated a slotted part r is shown. The purposeof this is to providea guide for the rocking member, the latter being arranged'to slide within theslots in the said QUI IUD

part. This feature, though convenient, is not essential.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is t l, In electric switches of the kind specified, the combination comprising a movable contact, a toggle mechanism carrying said contact, a rocln'ng member connected with the toggle mechanisun av sliding piece, a spring! for imparting to the sliding piece a movement in one direction, an operating element cooperating with the rocking member, a link pivotally connecting the operating element and sliding piece, and means attached to the link for imparting to the sliding piece a movement in the opposite direction to that elfected by the spring, said element having two hook-like piecesadapted alternately to engage the ends of the rocking member, substantially as described.

2. In electric switches of the. type specified, the combination comprising a movable contact, a toggle mechanism carrying said contact and including a spring, a rocking member connected with the toggle mechanism, a sliding piece, a iXed hollow guide slidably receiving said piece7 a spring for imparting to the sliding piece a movement in onedirection, a link having one end pivoted on the sliding piece, means attached adjacent the pivotal connection of the link and sliding piece for imparting to the sliding piece a movement in t-he opposite direction ,to that eHecte-d by the spring, and an operating element pivoted on the outer end ofthe link and comprising two hook-like portions, said parts being adapted alternately to engage the ends of the rocking member, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specication.l

REGINALD HO'WARD BAKER. CECIL WILLIAM PARSONS. 

